Regulating device for wireless receivers



' Oct. 13, 1936.

F. J. GRILLET 2,057,376

REGULATING DEVICE FOR WIRELESS RECEIVERS Filed April 16, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 13, 1936. F. J. GRILLET REGULATING DEVICE FOR WIRELESS RECEIVERS Filed April 16, 1935 4Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOE, Ev e kr-r y.

Oct. 13, 1936. F. J. GRILLET REGULATING DEVICE FOR WIRELESS RECEIVERS Filed April 16, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVLNT'OE "64., A-r-ry.

Oct. l3, 1936. F. J. GRILLET I 2,057,376

REGULATING 'DEVICE FOR WIRELESS RECEIVERS Filed April 16, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Fig.8

Franc ;& Tose hGnr |He+ l N V E N TOE,

- E; 43% v ATTV' Patented a. 13, 19 36 PATENT OFFICE REGULATING DEVICE FoR WIRELESS RECEIVERS Francois Joseph Grilletcaluire, France Application April 16, 1935, Serial No. 16,594

In France April 23, 1934 9 Claims.

This invention consists in a regulating switchboard in which each transmitting station is represented by a key which need only be depressed to obtain, without further searching, the required reproduction.

constructional examples of this regulating device are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a first constructional example,

Fig. 2 is a plan view of Fig. 1,

Figure 3 shows in detail the key systemincorporated in Figs. 1 and 2,

Fig. 4 show another construction of the key system,

Fig. 5 shows another manner of operating the selection of the desired range of waves,

Fig. 6 is a substantially transverse sectional view of the device incorporating therein detail constructions of Figs. 4 and 5,

Fig. 7 is a detail view of Fig. 6, showing the arrangement of the carriage controlling the rotors of the condensers of the wireless receiving apparatus,

Fig. 8 shows how the addition of a dial to the device is realized, and

Fig. 9 illustrates the control of the window by an electric motor. V

Fig. 1 is a View of the entire switchboard, comprising: keys 0., each of which bears the name of a station, the keys being arranged in vertical rows of eight or ten. The number of these vertical rows, situated side by side may, in practice, vary from eight to twelve.

Referring to the drawings and particularly to Figures 1 and 2, the present invention comprises a keyboard in which the keys 0. are arranged in a plurality of vertical rows, each key being provided with an indication of a certain station. It is preferable that the vertical rows consist of eight or ten keys each and that the rows may be eight to twelve in number.

The keyboard is normally covered by means of a glazed. window b comprising a metal frame slidably mounted in upright guideways 0, so as to enable the window b to be moved downwardly and to uncover the keyboard. The window b,

however, is normally held in its uppermost closedposition by a lever arm 0, the free end thereof being yieldably urged upwardly against a bracket (1 on the'inner lower side of the frame. The lever e is pivotally mounted at its opposite end and adjacent the pivotal mounting, the lever is yieldably supported by an upright link and spring 1. An electrical contact switch g is arranged bethe keys 0., consisting of an engaging device 7' and a long wave control arrangement Ic. This device constitutes the first part of the invention and serves to ensure the freedom of movement of all the keys by disengaging the selecting system and giving all the force required for the 5 different operations in order that the actuation of the buttons may be gentle and easy.

The selecting device is composed of as many elements as there are keys. Figure 3 illustrates one of these elements. The key a controls the 20 rod 1, which is turned or cut away to form a groove 1 and which is supported by two plates m and n. A spring 0 is engaged between a head on the rod 2 and the plate m and holds the rod in its advanced position. A stirrup p, integral with and projecting radially of the rod 1, carries a screwthreaded rod 1' mounted in the ears of the stirrup and adjustable longitudinally thereof, the rod r having a head (1 which is always accessible from above and which is used to move the rod r in order to adjust with great precision the stopping position of a plate a, the latter being integral with the regulating condenser.

Figure 1 shows, through opening of the plate m, an entire series of these screwthreaded rods r, the different heights of which determine the particular regulation of the receiver.

Present-day receivers are regulated by angular displacement of a condenser comprising several sections, which is to be found in practically all receiver frames. To each wave length there is a, corresponding predetermined angle of rota,- tion of the variable condenser, the axis of which is represented at s, at one terminal of which there is a pulley t, which is constantly returned to its maximum opening position by a spring. The pulley t is integral with the stop plate 11. which is carried by the horizontal arm of an angular bracket '0, the horizontal face thereof being displaced parallel to itself due to the articulation of the vertical arm in the form of an articulated parallelogram. The said horizontal arm of the angular bracket o carries a finger piece having a milled head 111, which is directly in the path of the bracket d and is engaged thereby to effect a 5 complete lowering of the plate 11. when the frame is lowered.

The lateral position of the plate u is perforated so that the apertures register with and allow all the screwthreaded rods 1 to pass therethrough when the keys are in their position of rest.

When the window is lowered, the stop plate u becomes completely disengaged from the screwthreaded rods. If pressure is exerted on a key, this key is then depressed sufiiciently to raise the grid 7 as a conical part a: of the rod 1, centers in an orifice in said grids, the said key being held in its depressed position by the plate :i, which falls back into the groove y as the orifice passes beyond the part :12. When the window b is raised, the plate 11. is raised until it engages a stop, the latter encountering a solid part of the said plate 11,.

The window I), when fully raised, again sets the apparatus in operation through the contact 9.

The angle of rotationrequired by the variable condenser may be very accurately determined by adjusting the screwrod r, the head of which remains constantly accessible to a key or screwdriver. All changes in the distribution of the wave lengths of transmitting stations may thus be compensated for immediately.

The changing over of long and short waves takes place automatically through the operation of the plate 70, which holds the long wave switch engaged when the depressed key is one of those reserved for long waves.

The lowering of the window I), through the movement of the lever 72., closes the circuit for long-Wave operation, which closed position is maintained as long as the extremity z'of the push rod Z, is engaged in the orifice of the grid is and, holds the latter in the lowered position when the window b is raised again.

Should there be several ranges of wave lengths necessitating different contacts, there may be a plurality of grids k effecting the necessary selection. In the same way, should several simultaneous regulations be necessary in order to obtain a predetermined station, the same rod Z may be lengthened and be provided with several adjustable stops 1', each acting on a plate u controlling the corresponding variable condenser.

According to the construction of another key system illustrated in Figure 4, each key comprises a plate I cut out and stamped and provided with a front bent-over extremity 2 on which the name of a station is indicated. A return spring 3, similar to the spring illustrated in Fig. 3, is interposed between part 2 and a plate 4, the spring embracing a guide rod cut out of the plate I and tending to return or project the keys towards the outside. The plate I comprises two curved tongues 6 and 'I struck up from the metal of the plate I, and internally tapped. These tongues thus form a screw bearing for the adjustable screwthreaded rod 8 similar to r, in Fig. 3, the tongues being flexible enough to form to all variations in the diameter of the screwthreaded rods and to permanently ensure a uniform adjustment of the screw without any excess resistance or possibility of play. These tongues, instead of being in one with the plate I, may be members fixed to the plate I, while functioning as a nut, but still adhering to the property of being resilient, and adapting themselves without play to any diameter of the screwthreaded rod 8.

The screwthreaded rod 8 traverses, at its extremities, two lateral plates 9, the rod passing through elongated oval apertures I0, the length of which is such as to allow the screwthreaded rod 8 a displacement corresponding to the depression of the key I, 2. The ends of the oval apertures I II serve, in addition, as points of support for the screwthreaded rod 8, both in the position of rest and in the depressed position of the key, the rods 8 being held parallel to ensure absolute certainty, either in their passage through the apertures in themovable stop grid I2, which is more clearly shown in Figure '7, or in the desired abutment of the solid parts of this grid.

A tongue I I serves as a retaining hook holding the key I in the depressed position.

This mechanism, which is of simplified construction and is more certain in operation, may

advantageously replace that illustrated in Figure 3.

In the construction described above the movable frame or window covering or uncovering the keys, is vertically displaced; this arrangement may not in some instances be convenient or practical and, as a consequence the construction illustrated in Figures 4 to 9, is contemplated, in which the horizontal displacement of the window is provided for, in order to remove the movable parts from the influence of the force of gravity.

Such an arrangement is diagrammatically illustrated particularly in Figure 5. There is also shown in this figure another form of the mechanism for selecting the combination of inductance coils required for the range of wave lengths corresponding to the station selected by a key.

In Figure 5, all the members or parts not entering into the mechanism in question have been omitted for the sake of clearness. The window of frame I3 slides laterally to the right and to the left in the direction of the arrows on slides I4. On the window is mounted a pivot I5 on which carries a pawl I6 provided with a cam II. This pawl, which follows the displacement of the Window, drives a pin or projection I9 through a tooth I8 upon the displacement of the window to the right, while in the case of the window being displaced to the left the projection I9 is driven by the tooth 20. The said pin or projection I9 is integral with a slide 2| sliding parallel to the displacement of the window I3. This sliding member 2I drives, by any suitable means, for example through an articulated rod 22, a contact maker 23, intended to place in circuit a certain combination of inductance coils according to the displacement of the sliding member 2|.

The crank, which is controlled by the rod 22, carries a bell-crank lever 28, controlling the changing over of the indications Long Waves and Short Waves on a dial, to which reference will be made later.

The keys 2, when depressed, bear against plates 25 forming a lever pivoted on a rod 26, the extremity 21 of the lever, in the raised position, moving into the path of the cam I I. Under these conditions, when the window is displaced, the cam I! is raised by passing on to that one of the extremities 21 which has been raised, and by this movement the pawl I6 itself is raised, so that the pin I9 becomes disengaged, and, as it is no longer driven, leaves the contact maker 23 in the position to give the combination of inductance coils required for the range of wave lengths corresponding to the depressed key.

In the construction according to Figure 6, the window I3 guided by the two rods I4 consists of two plates welded together adjacent their ends and spaced apart at their midportions to leave sufficient clearance 29 to enable a transparent sheet of celluloid or like material to slide between movable window I3 covering themmay beseen. F 32 denotes another rectangular apertureshowing the scale graduated in wave lengths, in front of which an indicator is moved. I

33 denotes a movable panel pivoted at 34, and adapted to be lowered on to the window 32 to cover it, the panel carrying the word Stop on its upper face, with the instruction to set the apparatus in operation raise this panel.

This movement operates a switch which closes the feed circuit of the set and brings about the appearanceon the lower face of the panel the instructions to be followed in order to obtain the desired reception. 1

In Figure 6, the keys 2 are illustratedin profile and all the screwthreaded rods 8 are shown in transverse section and I2 denotes the oval-pas sage accommodating the screwthreaded rods. One of the keys I." is illustrated in the depressed position of pushing the small plate 25 which controls the position of the contact maker of the inductances 23.

An inclined plane 31, integral with the window I3, acts on a lever 38 to raise the grid 39 which retains the depressed keys and then releases them when the window is shifted to change the reception.

A lever 40 receives the thrust exerted by a key marked hand regulation and expands a spring M which rocks a stirrup shaped member 42. The latter effects the looking, with heavy friction, of a rod 43 integral with the carriage 44 driving the variable tuning condenser through a cable 45 passing about a pulley 46 (Figures 6 and '7).

The rollers 41 and 48, actuated by an exterior button 49 and controlled by hand, directly actuate ports 5I which ensure a parallel displacement of the integral rod 43, so that the entire carriage may be displaced parallel to the window.

The carriage 44 is connectedto the window by a rod 52, which is shown in Figures 5, 6 and 7;

, this rod is secured at 53 to the carriage 44" and passes over the window I3 into a spring clip 54.

When the window is pushed to the right, the carriage 44 is also pushed into the extreme righthand position, but the rod 52, which is adapted to slide, ensures the maintenance of the spaced relation between the carriage 44 and the window I3.

If a key be depressed and the window be returned to the left, the latter drives the carriage to the left until the grid I2 is stopped by the screwthreaded rod illustrated at 8 At this moment, the window may terminate its movement to the left owing to the sliding permitted by the spring clip 54. The drum of the tuning condenser 46 remains in the position regulated by the abutment point of the screwthreaded rod 8 When the window has reached the end of its movement to the left, a resilient blade 56, integral with the window, bears on a support 51 and compresses the spring, which removes the friction normally making the window integral with the carriage through the rod 52. This rod has no tendency to move by itself and consequently the regulation does not tend to become automatic, but this release is indispensable to permit hand regulation when it is desired. In

fact, by turning the button 49, the carriage 44 is actuated without the 'window being actuated,

the latter remaining in the extremeleft-hand regulation position due to a device for silent hereinafter described.

To this arrangement, there is fitted a dial hav ing two or more scales graduated in wave lengths on arear plan 58 (Figures 6 and 8).

A slider 59, comprising a metal stirrup shown in Figure 6, slides behind this rear plane while supporting on the front a transparent plate 66 which is provided with a vertical engraved'line, serving a point of reference.

Through anaperture provided in the mounting of 59, there passes a. pin or projection 6I which renders this movable indicator integral withthe carriage 44 in order to enable it to indicate the wave lengths corresponding to the positions ofthe variable condenser'46. 7

On a more advanced plane, there is displacedin the downward direction an engraved panel 62' (Figures 6 and 8), in which an aperture reveals the scale corresponding to the position of the inductance switch 23, to which it is connected by the bellcrank lever 28 and a lever 63. I The part of this panel which conceals the scales not being used shows the inscription Long Waves or Short Waves according to its position, clearly indicating to the user without ambiguity the wave length received.

In order that the movements of the device may not be visible during the manipulations, there is displaced on a third plane another panel 64 articulated at 65 and integral with a lever carrying a small red 66, the other extremity of which is forked and-engages the slide I4, on the lefthand side, in such a manner that the slightest displacement of the window towards the right (Figures 6 and 8) causes the dial to be covered by the panel 64, which bears the following instructions: to change the reception, pull the window to the extreme right-hand position, then return to the extreme left-hand position in order to be able to hear.

This panel 64 carries a contact 61, which closes the low frequency feed circuit of the receiver on two insulated contact blades 68, so that all reception noises are cut out immediately-the window I 3 is moved to its extreme left-hand position.

In these latter constructions of the device, there is no return spring either for the tuning-condenser or for the inductance coil switch, whereby the operation is rendered particularly easy.

The manipulations of the device required by the user for displacing the window and a large number of movable members may, however, be avoided by an electric control, as illustrated by way of example in Figure 9. The window I3 is actuated by a connecting rod 69 controlled by a gentially with a screw provided on the shaft of an electric m'otor 'I I.

'The feed circuit of the motor passes through four shunt contacts, all of which close the circuit of the motor in order to cause it to rotate. A first contact I2, closed for a short period, brings about the commencement of the rotation during which a cam I3 doubles the closing of the circuit brought about in the first instance by the contact 12 and maintains the movement of the motor during a complete half rotation. The motor is stopped when the window is completely opened, by reason of the fact that the cam I3 will have permitted the breaking of the feed circuit,while the cam I4 has not as yet re-established this contact. Should pressure be exerted on any one of the keys 2, the circuit will be closed again at 15 by a contact controlled by the entire arrangement of the keys and when the window has returned into the closed position after a complete rotation of the wheel 10, the motor will stop because the cam 14 will break the circuit at [6: otherwise, the circuit would remain closed at 15 for the entire duration of the reception.

A button forming a spring switch 11 serves to close the circuit of the motor H and consequently to return the window l3 to the end of its movement and into the closed position. For this purpose, however, the user must depress the button 11 throughout the time required for the return of the window. In order to obviate this drawback, a contact 18, controlled by the cam 14, doubles the closing of the circuit of the motor immediately the latter has commenced to turn under the action of a pressure exerted on the button 11.

What I claim is:

1. A regulating device for wireless receivers, in which the tuning elements include rotors of variable condensers and a set of inductance coils comprising a series of keys having return springs and bearing the names of the stations to be received, a movable window covering and uncovering the series of keys, a series of regulatable screwthreaded rods equal in number to the keys, each screwthreaded rod being integral with a key and perpendicular thereto, a movable carriage carrying a stop grid having longitudinal slots perpendicular to the screwthreaded rods and being displaced in the longitudinal direction of the said screwthreaded, rods, means for driving the rotors of the condensers of the wireless receiver through the said carriage, means adapted to permit the simultaneous actuation of the window and of the carriage when none of the keys is depressed, and the actuation of the window alone when the stop grid is held fast by a depressed key, means controlled by each key for changing over the inductance coils of the wireless receiver and a switch controlled by the window for cutting off the reception during the movement of the said window.

2. A regulating device for wireless receivers, in which the tuning elements include rotors of variable condensers and a set of inductance coils comprising a series of keys having return springs and bearing the names of the stations to be received, a movable window covering and uncovering the series of keys, a series of regulatable screwthreaded rods equal in number to the keys, each screwthreaded rod being integral with a key and perpendicular thereto, a movable carriage carrying a stop grid having longitudinal slots perpendicular to the screwthreaded rods and being displaced in the longitudinal direction of the said screwthreaded rods, a parallelogram of articulated levers integral with the carriage; a cable attached to thesaid parallelogram and winding over a pulley having a return spring, which pulley is keyed on the shaft of the rotors of the condensers, two slides common to the window and to the carriage disposed side by side, means controlled by each key for changing over the inductance coils of the wireless receiver and a switch controlled by the window for cutting off the reception during the movement of the said window.

3. A regulating device for wireless receivers in which the tuning elements include rotors of variable condensers and a set of inductance coils comprising a series of keys having a return spring and bearing the names of the stations to be received, a sliding window covering and uncovering the series of keys, a series of regulatable screwthreaded rods equal in number to the keys, each screwthreaded rod being integral with a key and perpendicular thereto, a sliding carriage in frictional engagement with the window, a stop grid integral with the carriage and having longitudinal slots perpendicular to the screwthreaded rods, a cable attached to the said carriage and winding over a pulley keyed on the shaft of the rotors of the condensers, an articulated pawl bearing a cam and integral with the window, a projection cooperating with the pawl and integral with a slide actuating a contact maker for the inductance coils of the wireless receiver; a series of articulated levers, eachof which is actuated by a key in order to raise the cam of the pawl and to release the projection of the pawl and contacts controlled by the window for cutting off the reproduction during the movement of the said window.

4. A regulating device according to claim 3, comprising, in addition, a hand operating member actuating the carriage independently of the system of keys.

5. A regulating device for wireless receivers the tuning elements of which include rotors of variable condensers and a set of inductance coils, comprising a series of keys having a return spring and bearing the names of the stations to be received, a sliding window covering and uncovering the series of keys, a series of adjustable screwthreaded rods equal in number to the keys, each screwthreaded rod being attached to a key and perpendicular thereto, a sliding carriage in frictional engagement with the window, a stop grid integral with the carriage and having longitudinal slots perpendicular to the screwthreaded rods, means for driving the rotors of the variable condensers by the said carriage, a mechanism operated by the window and the keys for selectively controlling a contact maker for the inductance coils, contacts controlled by the window for cutting ofi the reception during the movement of the said window, a hand operating member actuating the carriage independently of the system of keys, and a dial graduated in wave lengths in front of which is moved a reference indicator integral with the carriage.

6. A regulating device according to claim 5, comprising, in addition, a movable screen adapted to cover and uncover the dial and a mechanism operated by the movement of the window for setting the movable screen in covering and uncovering position.

7. A regulating device for wireless receivers the tuning elements of which include rotors of variable condensers and a set of inductance coils, comprising a series of keys having return spring and bearing the names of the stations to be received, an electrically operated movable window covering and uncovering the series of keys, a series of regulatable screwthreaded rods equal in number to the keys, each screwthreaded rod being integral with a key and perpendicular thereto, a movable carriage carrying a stop grid having longitudinal slots perpendicular to the screwthreaded rods and being displaced in the longitudinal direction of the said screwthreaded rods, means for driving the rotors of the condensers of the wireless receiver through the said carriage, means adapted to permit the simultaneous actuation of the window and of the carriage when none of the keys is depressed, and the actuation of the window alone when the stop grid is held fast by a depressed key, means controlled by each key for changing over the inductance coils of the wireless receiver and a switch controlled by the window for cutting off the reception during the movement of the said window.

8. A regulating device for wireless receivers the tuning elements of which include rotors of variable condensers and a set of inductance coils, comprising a series of keys having a return spring and bearing the names of the stations to be received, a sliding window covering and uncovering the series of keys, a series of adjustable screwthreaded rods equal in number to the keys, each screwthreaded rod being attached to a key and perpendicular thereto, a slidingcarriage in frictional engagement with the window, a stop grid integral with the carriage and having longitudinal slots perpendicular to the screwthreaded rods,

means for driving the rotors of the variable condensers by the said carriage, a mechanism operated by the Window and the keys for selectively controlling a contact maker for the inductance coils, contacts controlled by the window for cutting off the reception during the movement of the said window, and an electric motor set in operation by push button control for actuating the window.

9. A regulating device for wireless receivers the tuning elements of which include rotors of variable condensers and a set of inductance coils, comprising a series of keys having a return spring and bearing the names of the stations to be received, a sliding window covering and uncovering the series of keys, a series of adjustable screwthreaded rods equal in number to the keys, each screwthreaded rod being attached to a key and perpendicular thereto, a sliding carriage in frictional engagement with the window, a stop grid integral with the carriage and having longitudinal slots perpendicular to the screwthreaded rods, an electric motor for driving the rotors of the variable condensers by means of a worm gear, coupling means connecting the sliding window with the wheel of the worm gear, a push button control for the circuit of the said electric motor, a mechanism operated by the window and the keys for selectively controlling a contact maker for the inductance coils, and contacts controlled by the window for cutting off the reception dur-.- ing the movement of the said window.

FRANCOIS JOSEPH GRILLET. 

